We finished up with Zera Pulsipher's autobiography last time and so today I wish to start with the Burgess line. I do have more writings from some of Zera's sons and daughters as well as his wife, Mary Ann Brown, but will save those for another day.
Our first "Burgess" ancestor to set foot on American soil was Johann Christian (Watterman) Borges. Johann was a Hessian mercenary. How he was recruited is not known, but he defected early upon arriving in the new world. This was not uncommon among the Hessian soldiers hired by the British to come and fight against the Continental Army. They viewed this as an opportunity for free passage to a new land, one with plenty of available wide open spaces to begin a new life and new adventure.
The first German troops arrive mid-1776 and we find Johann trying to get married as early as February of 1777. Some believe that he was wounded and healed back to health by a family named Burgess and so he adopted their name. Yet in the records I have found his name was Borges and was written as Burgess when he defected to the American's side.
He tried to marry Hannah Newland three different times before he was allowed to do so. A young couple had to have the select men's consent to be wed, and with Johann being a German mercenary they were refused twice before finally receiving permission to be married.
Hannah Newland was christened on May 10, 1758 at Norton, Bristol, Massachusetts the daughter of Antony and Patience Woodward Newland. This christening record can be found in the vital record of Norton. It is believed that Hannah had one son when she married John Burgess (his new American name.) Supposedly, Hannah and this son's father were never married.
Not only did John defect from the Hessian army, but we have records available of John's service after he enlisted in the Continental army in 1782 in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island State Library, State House, Providence, Rhode Island: Multiple records list John Burgess, a weaver, born in Germany enlisted as a private on March 19, 1782 in James Angells's class, Campaign of 1782, age twenty-six years. He served nine months and received a certificate for service in December of 1782.
John and Hannah moved to Lake George, New York. They were there in 1790 for the census but we are not sure exactly when they arrived.
One record indicates that John Burgess was the first owner of the place now occupied by Mr. Hiram Vowers, at the foot of Elephant Mountain. He had eleven children. Some records indicate that John died due to a tree falling on him while living in the Lake George area.
He shows up in the 1800 census, listing ten people living with him. As to his date of death, I will have to do more research.
Of their eleven children, William Burgess was the only one to join the LDS Church. William was married to Violate Stockwell and they were also living near Lake George when the Mormon missionaries came into their community. Their oldest son, Harrison, listened to the Elder's message and came to know of it's truthfulness and wished to be baptized. William and Violate also joined the Church but their is still some confusion as to when. One record indicates it was not until they moved to Kirtland, but William Burgess, Junior indicates that his parents were baptized while still in Lake George.
Interesting note: One of John and Hannah Burgess's sons is believed to have taken the picture of Abraham Lincoln that is used on the five dollar bill. So, each time you see that you can think of your legacy from your Burgess line. I have discovered a history of this particular son and will share that with you later as well.
We will continue the story of William Burgess and his family next time. I will tell you that William arrived in Kirtland, Ohio in September of 1833 and according to some records, William was one of the chief carpenters in erecting the temple at Kirland. He laid out the roofing timbers.
Another tidbit: My mom (Bonnie Jean Petty Higginson) told me that she had heard rumor in her family that her grandfather, James William Burgess (husband of Diana Elizabeth Crow) sang with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I checked the choir's history and it does indeed appear that he was once a member of the Choir. Fun fact!
